Les Arts Décoratifs

I've talked about the Art Décoratifs museum here before and I have been many times between now and then. I've been craving for more Art lately, I've been feeling the urge of going to museums. They are my safe place, there is nothing I love more than the quietness of a museum and its smell, the smell of carefully polished wooden floor, if it's creaking, it's even better. I like the Arts Décoratifs museum (beside the fact of what's in it) because it's never busy, I can walk around the rooms and have it all for myself, I can imagine stories, the life of those people who lived with those objects and pieces of furniture, I can imagine what it would be like to live in a 1920's modern, design flat...

As much as Art is a reflection of a time and its society, objects, furniture, interiors interest me even more. I love to know how people use to live, what they used, how they used it, what their days were like, it fascinates me. I have a nostalgia for time past. And more specifically I will go anywhere I can see some Art Deco.

Indiens des Plaines

I am finally back as promised with a subject dear to my heart, Native Americans. For as long as I can remember, I've always been fascinated with and in awe of Native American art and culture. Though I should say only art as I didn't know much about their actual culture when I was a kid, all I knew is that the Katchina dolls were the most beautiful things. My parents had a book at home about the Katchinas, a big beautifully printed art book, it was my favourite as a kid. So much so that one afternoon my mum made a little Indian rag doll, I still have it to this day, and it is one of my most precious belongings. For a long time my love for those tribes stayed somewhere in my heart, they were dear to me without really knowing why or even researching to know more. 

A little over a year ago now, we stumbled upon an exhibit at the National Portrait Gallery in London of George Catlin's paintings. Catlin travelled and lived with several Native American tribes over the years and painted scenes of everyday life and portraits of tribal Chiefs. He might not be the most incredible of painters, but his portraits are beautiful and more importantly, one of the very few traces we have of those people. He also kept a sort of diary in the form of letters. He knew how important it was to keep a written trace of it all, he knew they were not going to last. His letters are pleas for the White man to understand that Native Americans were not savages, that they were cultured and civilised in a different way. His writings are also a trace of their rituals, their games, their beliefs and their way of life. As a painter he was considered "magic" and was as highly regarded as a Medicine Man by the tribes. It's the highest rank alongside the Chief. That gave him the right to sit and watch secret rituals, some of which were of incredible violence towards one's self. Warriors, to be worthy, were physically tested and put through what was clearly torture. He describes them as proud, brave and strong men with an incredible will and self-control. Far from the drunk, blood-thirsty savage image White people had of them at the time. I couldn't recommend his book , North American Indians, enough if you're interested on the subject, it's an insightful and loving account of who they were, in all their diversity, each tribe being different (some of them were indeed violent warriors, whereas others were completely peaceful. As you can imagine the latter were the first to become extinct.)

All this was a long introduction to the Paris exhibit at the Musée du Quai Branly, Indiens des Plaines. The exhibit doesn't really mention Caitlin, only one of his portraits is featured, as it's all about Native American artefacts. And it's beautiful. It was extremely busy when we went (the first Sunday of the month is free) and we were frustratingly squished between people at the beginning until you arrive in a vast room filled with clothes, objects, weapons, pipes, musical instruments, buffalo skins and magnificent headdresses. Their everyday life objects were all crafted with such care and skill, the bead works aren't famous for nothing!

I had a very special thing for the tambourine with the swallows painted on. They look similar to the one I drew for my tattoo (that gave the name to the blog). I really want to get of those tattooed as well, and have in a way my own Native American tattoo.

Musée de Cluny

Before leaving for London, I lived for a few years very close to the Cluny museum in Paris, which is about Middle Ages, and I only went once. In my memory it was huge, I felt like it took us hours to see everything, now that I've been back I really don't know why. I love wandering through those old stone rooms, I love castles and I do like medieval art. I'm all about animal protection and I am horrified by any violence against them, still I am amazed by the ivory sculptures from medieval times, they are so incredibly detailed. But the masterpiece of the museum is The Lady and the Unicorn six tapestries. They are an incredible work of precision, patience (they are huge) and skill. They represent the five senses, hearing, smell, taste, touch and sight. The sixth one is a mystery, it's called Mon Seul Désir, my only desire. I apologise for the poor quality of the picture but as you can imagine they are in dark rooms to protect them from the light.

I am not good with words tonight, I've been up since 6.30am and I manage to fall going up the stairs at work. Yes, going up. Carrying a glass vase. All is well, for the vase at least, but my knee and my shoulder should soon change colours. So I'm off for food and a drink to cheer me up!

1925, Quand l'Art Déco séduit le monde

If I could travel in time, it would be to the 1920's. For everything, the fashion (I need a velvet fur trim coat), the art, the architecture, the culture and any piece of furniture. Then I stop and I think that in order to be alive in the 20's, I would have to live through two world war, like my great grand dad did. But I'm still weirdly nostalgic of that time, I have a very bourgeois attraction to it though, I want backless evening dresses, dinners out, champagne cocktail, boat trips to the south of France. I want to live in a Scott Fitzgerald book, minus the mental illness and alcoholism. Unfortunately for me, that's the part I get with panic attacks and depression (not alcoholism!).

I finally managed to go to the exhibit at the Palais Chaillot, it ends very soon, so if you are in Paris, run there! I wish it had been bigger, I wish there had been less people, well I wish I actually had been to the 1925 Art Déco exhibit in Paris. But it was amazing to be able to relive it in a way. It's a lot about architecture, a subject that interests me more and more, I appreciate buildings more, I notice more details and see beauty in it. And it's amazing to see the influence of Art Déco through the world. I've never realised how many Art Déco buildings they are in Shanghai, I wish I had known that at the time. 

What amazes me with that era, is how everything is out of proportion, look at those automobiles radiators caps on the third picture! And imagine the car underneath. I could also mention the Normandie, that huge cruise boat, filled with precious and expensive ware and furniture. Or that gigantic statue of the Christ. But my favourite of it all, is the Pompom bear. I simply love it. I actually got a reproduction for my mum for Christmas. The original 1920's one was very tempting...

Chanel aux Arts Décoratifs

One of the many things I love about Paris is the musée des Arts Décoratifs, it is not surprising since I have a love for furniture and a passion for anything from the 20's. This place is heaven, I love it all but I usually go straight for the art nouveau and art déco sections. I want to live in there. I am still torn between minimalist Scandinavian designs, art nouveau curves and art déco black walls and gold patterns. I will share with you all my favourite pieces very soon as well, but last time I went, something was different. To go to my beloved sections, I went through the 1800's rooms, and to my surprise I ran into a Chanel dress. And another one. And another one. They were scattered around the rooms among other designers and jewellery. My favourites were the two pearl dresses set up in a room. It was just perfect with the light and they looked right at home. Some of them looked out of place, or just put there, but those two were spot on. It was quite enjoyable to have them there. There was also another artist exhibiting in the art déco rooms, however it wasn't as pleasing at all. I was actually quite annoyed by it as it ruined the rooms for me, I'm not sure what his point was and I thought it wasn't working with the surrounding compared to the Chanel models. But extra art or not, I highly recommend that museum if you are in Paris, it's a joy!

V&A

The Victoria and Albert museum is one of my favourite place in London. I mean how not to love a place dedicated to art, design and fashion. I've been there many times but I never get tired of it, I'm actually pretty sure I have pictures on some film rolls I need to finish. It was the first time I was going there with my Canon ESO and I took this opportunity to experiment with the manual settings. I still need to learn a bit more.

This was a couple of weekends ago, when the weather was still chilly and we were mostly getting rained on every time we were stepping outside. For a few minutes the sun stopped playing shy and came out, just long enough for us to take off our coats and sit in the courtyard. I couldn't resist a little bit of fashion afterwards, this 1930's long white flowers pattern dress is beyond perfection, don't you think?